- hatchback 24,995
- Fayetteville, TN
- 5 years
- autoshopper.com
- hatchback 24,995 gasoline manual
2012 volvo c30 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. More performance with new polestar motorsport option. introductionthe volvo c30 is an attractive premium compact that's practical and fun to drive. The c30 comes with volvo's safety engineering and is loaded with safety features. The volvo c30 competes with the audi a3 and volkswagen gti, sporty premium compact cars. for 2012, there are mostly only package changes, with the standard bluetooth now adding audio streaming. The current-generation c30 was launched as a 2007 model. The volvo c30 t5 r-design is designed for sharper handling response, with stiffer springs, special shocks, stiffer bushings and a quicker steering ratio. all c30 models come with a 2. 5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine rated at 227 horsepower and a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic geartronic with auto-stick. The c30 is front-wheel drive. fuel economy is an epa-estimated 21/30 mpg city/highway with the automatic, 21/29 mpg with the manual gearbox. we found the c30 fun to drive, with good steering feel. It stays flat while cornering and is nimble enough to slice through traffic. The turbocharged five-cylinder engine provides plenty of punch to keep the fun coming. The standard cloth upholstery is a unique fabric that resembles wetsuit material. Room up front is plentiful, and the controls are easy to spot and use. The two-door body style makes getting into the backseat a bit of a hassle, but the rear seat is comfortable for two passengers. Those rear seats fold down to create a large rear hatch area with lots of carrying capacity. a two-door hatchback, the c30 shares most of its mechanicals with the volvo s40 compact sedan. Outside, r-design is distinguished by additional bright trim and body-color (rather than black) wheel flares, sill extensions, and fog lights. R-design gets a sports suspension complemented by 215/45r18 tires. leather seating is optional 1200). A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, and a 5-speed automatic is an option 1250). Premium plus 2000) adds power glass moonroof, power front seats, and led daytime running lights. And platinum 4400) adds navigation and a premium sound system with satellite radio. The climate package 900) has heated front seats, headlight washers, rain-sensing wipers, electronic climate control with an interior air quality system and a humidity sensor. Stand-alone options include volvo's blind spot information system 700), sirius/xm satellite radio 400), and xenon headlamps 800). safety features include the mandated dual front airbags, plus side-curtain airbags for head protection, and side-impact airbags for torso protection. Active safety features consist of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control (esc), electronic brake-force distribution (ebd) and brake assist. The optional blis blind spot information system can help alert the driver to a vehicle in the blind spot when signaling to change lanes. walkaroundthe volvo c30 design is striking, particularly from the side. The roofline starts out high and slopes gradually down, pinching the rear windows. Those windows are drawn in, leaving room for another volvo characteristic, pronounced shoulders. the c30 is a two-door hatchback, also called a three-door. Sporty design cues include short front and rear overhangs, an integrated body kit, and big wheels on wide tires. On r-design models the entire kit is body-color, for a more subtle look that we like much better. the story isn't the c30's front or sides, though. Volvo is putting more emphasis on the rear aspect of the c30, choosing to show that angle in promotional materials. The most prominent feature is the dark-tinted rear glass, an attractive frameless trapezoidal shape that recalls the rear of the 1971-73 volvo 1800 es wagon. The glass dips down low and is flanked by unique taillights that rise up to the roof and jut out at the bottom to match the shape of the car's shoulders. The volvo name is spelled out across the bottom of the glass in bold, bright letters. The look is different from anything out there and is strong enough to give the car a distinct character. t5 r-design models come with 18-inch wheels, while c30s come with 17-inch alloy wheels. the volvo c30 is based on the same platform as the s40 and v50, and all share the same 103. 9-inch wheelbase. But the c30 is nearly 9 inches shorter than the s40, all sliced from behind the rear wheels. the volvo c30 competes with the audi a3, mini cooper s, and volkswagen gti. The c30 has a longer wheelbase than all three. The mini is two feet shorter than all three of these cars. From the rear, the c30 has the most character of these cars. From the front, it would be easy to mistake the c30 for a volvo s40 or v50. interiorvolvo aims at sportiness inside the c30, along with high-tech, scandinavian style. Volvo's trademark floating center stack is the central design element. Along the center is another series of buttons for more audio and climate functions, including a telephone-like set of buttons for the audio presets. The r-design model features additional aluminum trim, and handsome blue-faced gauges with white markings and red pointers. the cloth upholstery that comes standard is called kalix t-tech. It has the look of wetsuit material. Kalix has a higher quality appearance than most cloth, fitting somewhere between regular cloth and leather. The r-design upgrades to a striking combination of black flextech fabric with creme leather seating surfaces. Full leather upholstery is available in both models. Leather is a better choice for fending off dog hair. We found the quality of the interior materials excellent. The dash panel is made of a quality soft-touch material, and all the panels fit together with close, uniform gaps. the c30 is comfortable, though not as comfortable as the bigger, more expensive volvos. The driver's seat has enough manual adjustments to tailor a comfortable driving position and enough side bolstering to keep backsides planted in corners. Head restraints are now adjustable as well. The front seats have plenty of head room and good leg room, though very tall drivers might wish for more seat travel. The tilt/telescoping steering wheel helps the driver adjust for a comfortable and proper driving position. The steering wheel seemed big to us, though. visibility is generally good, though volvo's typically thick front pillars can restrict vision to the corners at intersections. Those same pillars add safety in a rollover accident. the audio system is a capable 160-watt am/fm/cd stereo with six speakers. The upgrade is a 650-watt unit with 10 dynaudio speakers and sirius satellite radio with a six-month subscription. A usb port for ipod or flash drive connectivity is available as an accessory. It allows customers to control their ipods through the radio. The high-end stereo can really crank, and we found the sound is clear even at high volume. the hdd-based navigation system comes with real time traffic with no monthly charge. interior storage consists of two cupholders located ahead of a console bin that is just big enough to hold cd cases. Additional storage can be found behind the center stack in a rubberized tray, but it's hard to access. Map pockets are located in the doors. the rear seats are fairly easy to access and offer decent room. The front seats tilt and slide forward to provide an open path to the rear seat, though it still requires passengers to twist and duck. Once inside, they sit back and into the seats. Rear-seat leg room is good unless the front seats are far back and toe room under the front seats is plentiful. Head room is sufficient for six footers, but tall riders might need to slouch. the hatchback body style gives the c30 a fair bit of utility. The rear seats fold to create a flat load floor with 20. 2 cubic feet of easy-to-access cargo room.
Fayetteville, TNFayetteville, TN 5 years at autoshopper.com